122 - Tony Gwynn

 

122 - Tony Gwynn

Front: Signing an autograph.

Back: Circling the basepaths.

Better side: Kinda surprised that none of the feature him at the plate. I love autograph photos, but the casual way he's just going around the bases gives a slight nod to the reverse.

Ties to my personal collections: None. But he did pick up his 3000th hit in Montreal.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 71

Wiki-facts: Lots of interesting choices, but I'll pick - "On May 9, 2017, a memorial statue in his honor was unveiled at Lake Poway"

Google it: Related searches: "Gwynn played both baseball and basketball at San Diego State, and he still owns several records in basketball for the Aztecs"  

How was his strike-shortened 1994? An All-Star. A Silver Slugger. Lead the NL with 165 hits, while batting .394 with 12 HR and 64 RBI.

Birthday boy: I don't do this for players who have passed away.

Next up: Jeffrey Hammonds (The first Oriole)

121 - Chris Gwynn

 

121 - Chris Gwynn 

Front: An infield play. Looks like a race to the bag with the winner yet to be determined.

Back: The batting cage.

Better side: While I'd normally pick the action shot, the batting cage photo seems rarer, so I'd pick that.

Ties to my personal collections: None.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 6 making back-to-back 6 paragraph wikis! That streak ends next time.

Wiki-facts: "While with the Dodgers, Gwynn made the final out in Dennis Martínez's perfect game on July 28, 1991"

Google it: Related searches: "Tony Gwynn". It even has 'Tony Gwynn's brother' on the pull down menu when searching.  

How was his strike-shortened 1994? After a two year stint in KC, he'd be back with the Dodgers. Went .268 with 3 HR and 13 RBI, but had only 71 AB.

Birthday boy: October 13, 1964. Nobody in the *-reference world was born that date. Wiki lists Jamaican writer Colin Channer as born that date, as well as TV host Chip Foose.s

Next up: 122 - Tony Gwynn 

120 - Juan Guzman

Front: A horizontal shot, with the empty stands at Cleveland's old Municipal Stadium in the background.

Back: The same, albeit vertically.

Better side: Picking an action shot over a generic standing-around photo is an easy choice.

Ties to my personal collections: He's a Blue Jay!

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 6

Wiki-facts: He led the American league in wild pitches in 1993 and 1994.

Google it: Bluebird Banter ranked him the 19th greatest Blue Jay of all-time.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Went 12-11, but with an ERA of 5.68. 

Birthday boy: October 28, 1966. Former MLB infielder Tim Bogar was also born that date. You have to head to football for the big name on that date, with Hall of Famer Steve Atwater coming into the world that date. Hockey has journeyman Benoit Hogue, and outside the sporting world, there's Andy Richter.

Next up: Chris Gwynn

119 - Ricky Gutierrez

Front: A crouching photo that nicely goes with the horizontal design as he appears to be trying to stop an advancing runner.

Back: Throwing the ball across the infield.

Better Side: The front photo is more unique.

Ties to my personal collections: Spent time with the Mets in 2004, but was released in May of that year. He'd finish the season in Boston, and pick up some jewelry in the process.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 9

Wiki-facts: He was also the only Houston Astros player to get a base hit in Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game.

Google it: Looks like there's some crypto/youtuber with the same name.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Batted .240 with 1 HR and 28 RBI. He'd be dealt to the Astros as part of the Ken Caminiti deal in December.

Birthday boy:  May 23, 1970. He looks to be the only person in the *-reference land with that birthdate. Wiki does list Bryan Herta, a race car driver, as that date.

Next up: Juan Guzman

118 - Bill Gullickson

 

Front: Pitching.

Back: Standing.

Better side: Front. Even if the photo makes it seem feasible that Gullickson threw side-arm.

Ties to my personal collections: Former Expo.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 13 (and a 6 point bullet list with the athletic accomplishments of his children)

Wiki-facts: "When he was in Japan, it was considered a miracle that Gullickson, a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus, played a professional sport. Since 1998, the Japan Diabetes Mellitus Society (JADMC) has awarded the "Gullickson Award" for the patient who is deemed a superior influence on society."

Google it: Enjoy highlights from his 18 strike-out game.  

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Went 4-5 with a 5.93 ERA. Forced to retire after this season due to injury.

Birthday boy: February 20, 1959. The only person in the *-reference world with that birthday other than Bill is former Saints back-up QB Greg Knaflec. Race car driver Scott Brayton was also born that date. 1 year later, Joel "MST3K" Hodgson was born.

Next up: Ricky Gutierrez.

117 - Ken Griffey Jr.

My first rerun in this, as he appeared on a promotional card I posted back in 2016.

Front: Just an epic looking picture for the time. Now looks like a base card in a set like a base card you'd see in a set like Inception.

Back: Awkwardness on the base paths.

Better side: Front. Easily.

(cut/paste from Promo card #50, I don't really feel like counting wiki paragraphs again)

Ties to my personal collections: Nothing direct.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 58

Wiki-facts: "Griffey was named an American Public Diplomacy Envoy by then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on November 18, 2008."

Google it: Attempted suicide in 1988. Wow.

How was his strike-shortened 1994? Batted .323, with his 40 HR leading the AL.

Birthday boy: November 21, 1969. No other MLBers were born that date. In fact, nobody at any of the reference sites was born that day. Even on wikipedia's November 21st entry, nobody else is listed that date. Strangely appropriate for a player of Griffey's abilities.

Next up: Bill Gullickson

 

116 - Willie Greene

116 - Willie Greene 

Front photo: A close up at the plate.

Back photo: A casual infield play.

Better photo?: Horizontalness is a tie-breaker for the front.

Ties to my personal collections: Played for the Jays and spent some minor league time with the Expos. Got a Bowman card with the Expos, and a few 1999 cards with Toronto.

Paragraphs in wikipedia entry: 3

Wiki-facts: "Georgia's Gatorade Player of The Year in baseball"

Google it: There's a singer named 'Willie Greene' who sings with the Temptations.

How was his strike shortened 1994? Only 37 AB, with 3 RBI and a .216 BA,

Birthday boy: September 23, 1971. There's a couple former NBAers born that date, Eric Montross and Cuonzo Martin. This is a strange birthdate in terms of *-reference.com matches, as there are those two NBAers, but no NFLers or NHLers. Another 9/23/71 baby was Sean Spicer, the former White House Press Secretary.

Up Next: 117 - Ken Griffey Jr.